Sunday, October 6, 2013

The Civil War in COLOR for the first time: Painstakingly remastered images of a divided America that recreate era in amazing detail

UK Mail "Two professional colorists have combined their skills with photographs and fascination with the American Civil War to create a remarkable series of color photographs from the era.
"British colorist Jordan Lloyd, 27, met fellow colorist Mads Madsen, 19, from Denmark when he started posting on Madsen's subreddit 'Colorized History'.
"Initially it was Madsen who was colorizing images from the Civil War era, but Lloyd eventually got interested and now the two work together restoring the images, improving their technique by giving each other critiques.


"Regard the face of Major General George Armstrong Custer - who was reportedly so enamored of himself that he would wear his own personalized uniform that displayed the same 'Austrian Knots' that the Confederates used, a bright red cravat, and underneath his shirt, a sailor shirt with his rank stars sewn on, even in the presence of officers of superior rank.
C"uster's flamboyance was much noted in his time, and his arrogance may be explained by the fact that he was a fearless leader who was promoted to General at the tender age of 24.

"His demise in 1876, which would become known as Custer's Last Stand, was due to the failure of his fellow commanders and not for lack of Custer's courage."

Below: "Flying colors: Major General Joshua Chamberlain, the 'Hero of Little Round Top' "
Major General (Pictured Brigadier) Joshua Chamberlain

"Brought to life: Lewis Powell (pictured) conspired with John Wilkes Booth to kill President Lincoln - Powell's job was to kill Secretary of State William H. Seward, a job at which he failed."

Some people actually believed this and contacted Snopes

Thomas Lifson   "Let me save Snopes some time. This image from iOwnTheWorld.com and Conservative Treehouse is also satirical. No, Obama has not yet capped Old Faithful. It's a joke!"

An Unusual Relationship: Evangelical Christians and Jews by Yaakov Ariel.

What this author calls "mainstream Christians" are those who come from denominations that have generally rejected the authority of Scripture. Remember there are far too many evangelicals for them  to be considered out of the mainstream. Tunnel Dweller

  By  in The American Culture.
"Dr. Ariel stresses that this form of Christianity is markedly different from prior forms  in holding that  the Christian church has not replaced the Jews as God’s chosen people.   Its followers are biblical literalists and oppose a ‘spiritualized” interpretation of scripture.  Thus they see the Hebrew nation as still chosen with  an important role to play in salvation history and are (or will be again) God’s first nation.  Dr. Ariel shows that, as this theology has become stronger it has also evolved.  For example, it used to be thought that the Antichrist would be a Jew.  This is no longer held to be the case by everyone in the evangelical world.  Another example is the attitude towards the rebuilding of the Temple.  While traditionally it has been thought this  was  simply a necessary prelude  to the return of Jesus,  some evangelical thinkers  today believe the Temple will serve a positive function in the millennial kingdom."

Prestige and Power in Statecraft

"History teaches us that nations must always respond vigorously to an enemy’s challenge, a lesson the U.S. should remember in Syria."
Bruce S. Thornton ...."Hitler’s generals trembled at all three moves, as they did not believe the Wehrmacht was ready to take on two powerful enemies like England and France as it would in 1939. But the British and the French had the perception that Hitler’s military was that strong, and that perception became a force multiplier. But perception is a two-edged sword. All France’s and England’s military might did not impress Hitler, because he did not believe that they had the will to use it. Here we see the truth of Napoleon’s dictum that “morale is to the physical as three to one.” No amount of material power can compensate for the accurate perception that a state has weak morale and is unwilling to fight. And even if false, that perception can invite aggression."....

Saudi Cleric Lauds Hitler For “Barbecuing” The Jews…

Weasel Zippers
 
 
"Adolf Hitler had a blessed way of burning you, oh rotting nation.
He would rain bombs upon your land from planes and from gas jets, spreading a red mist over the frozen Volga River.
"How many times have I read, in delight and relief, what he did to you on those tremendous days.
"If I were allowed to pray for a non-Muslim, I would have prayed for the soul of the Nazi leader, who barbecued you and the Jews through and through with gasoline."  Saudi cleric Muhammad Al-Farraj

No Answers from Reid Why Private Parks Ordered Closed During Shutdown

Big Government  "However, Reid told Breitbart News he was unaware of the hundreds of privately funded parks, some of which are non-profits, that were shut down by order of the federal government as a result of the political conflict in Washington."

Harry Reid’s Bad Week
The Senate majority leader hasn’t looked like much of a leader at all.
"Ironically, given all his knocks on Boehner’s leadership, Reid’s behavior is unbecoming of a politician of his stature, Republicans argue, and is actively undermining the ability of the two sides to come to an agreement. They also doubt his non-negotiation strategy will improve his reputation at all.   Andrew Stiles

Move over, empty chair; New design for Obama Monument revealed  "While an empty chair was the perfect metaphor for President Obama’s first term in office, it doesn’t really capture what might be the greatest accomplishment of his second. Would it be too much to add an empty chair behind the Barrycade?"
 

Lists of illogical, unnecessary, and shockingly spiteful moves our government is making in the name of essential and non-essential.



3. Furloughed Military Chaplains Not Allowed to Work for Free – Furloughed military chaplains willing to celebrate Mass and baptisms for free have been told they will be punished for doing so.




Top 10 insane moments of Obama-Reid shutdown   "One National Park Service Employee was brave enough to come out and report that federal workers who haven’t been furloughed have received orders from above to make the shutdown as painful as possible for the American people. He said, “We’ve been told to make life as difficult for people as we can. It’s disgusting.” The shutdown has gone past difficult and is approaching ridiculous."

Rep. Gohmert Once Asked If Obama Would Put A Drapery Over Mt. Rushmore; You Probably Thought That Was A Joke   "As the good folks over at Breitbart have pointed out, this is government by temper tantrum. Barack Obama is a spoiled child holding his breath until he gets his way. You don’t want to play by his rules? Fine, he’ll take his toy trucks and go on home.

"Obama once again shows where his priorities are.
"If you go to www.amberalert.gov - the Amber Alert website for missing children, this is what you get:"

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Obama open to name change for Washington Redskins


AP  "President Barack Obama says he would "think about changing" the Washington Redskins' name if he owned the football team as he waded into the controversy involving a word many consider offensive to Native Americans.
Obama, in an interview with The Associated Press, said team names such as the Redskins offend "a sizable group of people." He said that while fans get attached to the names, nostalgia may not be a good enough reason to keep them in place."....
AP Photo
 
redskins logo photo: Redskins Logo RedskinsLogoSM.jpg

Obama's Spite Fences.

First remember: Park Rangers Ordered to ‘Make Life Difficult’ During Shutdown Those would be the National Park Service of Obama's Rangers and never forget that.
“It’s a cheap way to deal with the situation,” an angry Park Service ranger in Washington says of the harassment. “We’ve been told to make life as difficult for people as we can. It’s disgusting.”
Blame whomever you will for this issue, but know that it was Obama who ordered these sites blocked!

Police Remove Vietnam War Veterans at Memorial Wall   "After one group of veterans went around the barricade, "the park ranger told them the wall was closed," NBC's Mark Seagraves reported. "Later another group of vets showed up and moved the barricades. At that point, the memorial filled with vets and tourists. That's when police came and moved everyone out."
....
"It takes more manpower and costs the government more money to close down an outdoor wall than to let people walk past it and pay their respects.
The Obama administration has been very selective in devoting resources to shutting down memorials." This vindictive president and his administration.

Iwo Jima Memorial Closed, Barricades Erected (Update: Vets Break Through) 

"The stop is a popular destination for veterans and tourists alike, and, in my observation, is usually completely unmanned and unguarded. But, for some reason, it's closed to the public during this federal government shutdown."

Memorial circus outrages visitors  “I think it’s trashy politics if a politician is coming down to get publicity at a memorial that they have closed. I’m talking about both sides,” said Colonel Al Appling..."
Sure, blame both sides, but remember it is Obama who ordered these to be shut down. 

Feds Try to Close the OCEAN Because of Shutdown  "The Park Service will also have rangers on duty to police the ban... of access to an ocean. The government will probably use more personnel and spend more resources to attempt to close the ocean, than it would in its normal course of business."
All above via Drudge

For Political Impact Only   "The nameless bureaucrats that make anonymous decisions affecting our lives decided that open air walk through malls must now be enclosed and sealed.  It takes more money and effort to close an open park or mall than to leave it open.  I guess we shouldn't be surprised.  The optics of the yellow tape around the WWII memorial screams "the Republicans did this".....at first.  Then the analysis turns to the idiocy of the exercise and the bogus intent."
....
James Piereson refers to "punitive liberalism" where in the Punitive Liberals feel that the purpose of national policy is "to punish the nation for its crimes rather than to build a stronger America and a brighter future for all."  One massive reparation for all those "harmed" by our nation

Making Life Difficult   "The Democrats are claiming the Republicans are holding the nations "hostage." But is seems the mean- spirited hostility to the public is coming from the Obama administration."

Unclear and Present Danger? Obama’s Actions over WWII Memorial Tips His Handful of Sad Jokers   “ 'Public lands” DO NOT belong to the Federal Government, they belong to “the public.” As such, the Federal Government has NO authority to keep “the people” from access to land which belongs to “the people.” The government can only stop the upkeep and maintenance of the property. It CANNOT block public access to public lands, at least “constitutionally.' ”

DEVELOPING… National Park Service Blocks Roads To Keep Drivers From Viewing Mount Rushmore
View image on Twitter
Diana West @diana_west_
UNBELIEVABLE: NPS blocks lane to prevent viewers from stopping on the side of the road to view Mt Rushmore!
The National Park Service is run by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar who sits at the table with Barack Obama during cabinet meetings. Here is where the President can give him instructions on what to do with American's access to national parks and memorials, including telling him not to spend money on blocking visitor access. Or, being Obama, this is likely where he told Salazar to make things as difficult for Americans as possible.
Somehow I picture laughter around the cabinet table as Salazar told Obama he even put cones in the road so people cannot even stop to look at Mt. Rushmore.
"Attaboy, Ken! I can't wait to blame this on the Republicans!"
How vindictive of this petulant, spiteful, juvenile president.
The Tunnel Dweller

Here is the Facebook page of Sec. of the Interior Ken Salazar 

Did House Democrats Find Way To Get A Vote On A Clean Budget Resolution And End The Shutdown?

Forbes   "With anywhere between eighteen and two dozen Republicans in the House indicating that they are prepared to vote for a ‘clean’ continuing resolution that would re-open government without language doing harm to Obamacare, House Democrats have been scrambling to find a way to get to such a vote despite Speaker John Boehner’s unwillingness to let it happen.

"They may have done it."
Political Cartoons by Jerry Holbert
R.I.P. G.O.P.-House Debt Ceiling Proposal Could Bring The Final Curtain Down On The Republican Party   "The party may soon be over…that is the Republican Party.
"Looking to find a way out of the government shutdown box the House Republicans have built for themselves, a plan is emerging that would keep the government open in exchange for delaying the real showdown until the debt ceiling debate—or as I now like to call it, “D-Day”— takes center stage."

Al Qaeda Building Main Base in Syria. Do you miss George Bush yet?

Photo of Islamist militants in Iraq and Syria border / AP
Washington Free Beacon   "Al Qaeda is constructing its main regional base in areas of Syria where Bashar al-Assad’s regime has lost control, according to Mosaic magazine.
"The group will export terrorism and radical Islam throughout the region and then to the West, according to a report from an Israeli security research institute.
The report identified the Al Nusra Front as Al Qaeda’s official arm in Syria; they added that the organization is quickly entrenching itself in the north and east of Syria, where the Assad regime’s rule has collapsed. […]
Qaeda in Syria wants to dominate Iraq, Turkey border zones    "Jihadists have even sought to justify the strategy on Internet forums by accusing Western-backed groups, including Ahfad al-Rasul and the Northern Storm brigade, of acting like the US-funded "Sahwa" who fought Al-Qaeda in Iraq."

From the Syria debacle, Iran has learned that our threats are empty and posturing as a “moderate” works.

Victor Davis Hanson
 
When — not if — is the only mystery about an Iranian nuclear bomb.
All the warning signs are there.
‘Game Changers’
"In 2008, presidential candidate Barack Obama on two occasions went out of his way to warn the Iranians that the development of a nuclear weapon “would be a game-changing situation, not just in the Middle East, but around the world.” Obama later added, “It is unacceptable for Iran to possess a nuclear weapon; it would be a game changer.”
"Strong language. And Obama twice this year again used “game changer” in reference to Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, warning him not to dare use chemical weapons."

The conclusion that Hanson expects evil rulers of the world to draw from Obama and liberals running this nation:
...But what is new is the Syrian model, which has excited the Iranians as never before. “Game changer” threats are now seen as empty. Posturing as a “moderate” works. Sugary op-eds in American papers beguile the public. And Vladimir Putin is always ready to come to the rescue.

UN Appoints Iran to Nuclear Disarmament Security Committee “Placing a patron state of Syria on this committee as the U.N. begins disarmament of Syria’s chemical weapons is a further blow to the credibility of the United Nations,” Rogers added.